Anatomy scan was Tuesday. In addition to finding out that both babies are girls, I learned that Baby A is about 9 ounces with a heart rate of 152 bpm and Baby B is about 8 ounces with a heart rate of 136 bpm. Initially I was concerned about the disparity, but apparently both are within the normal range of 120 - 160 so all is good. I was a little shocked that they seem to weigh so much more than their weekly fruit counterparts, but I imagine it is all an estimate right now anyway. Or maybe I just have big babies. that would be ok too (although not likely as I was only 6lbs 1oz at birth).
Everything seemed to look really good on the scan, but the sonographer did not get all the measurements she wanted to get on Baby B so I am seeing a MFM specialist on Tuesday for a Level II ultrasound. I can only imagine how much that is going to cost for this OOP mama.
Tax deductions, tax deductions - that's what I keep telling myself every time I have to hand over my credit card for another medical payment that SHOULD be covered by insurance if I wasn't a middle class, middle income, self-employed Texan. After IVF and all the prenatal care, mama is looking at about $35k in medical expenses that I can deduct this year. Yikes! That would have been a nice down payment on a new house, but I would rather have the babies. And if we have to spend another year in the shoebox condo, then that is what we will have to do.
I am 99.99% sure I have nailed down their names. I just need to sit on it for a few more days to be sure.
In other news, I have finally started gaining weight - 7 lbs in the past 4 weeks for a grand total of 7 lbs. I am sure about 5 of those pounds are due to all the crap I ate over the last 4 weeks. I really need to get that in check. Obviously I won't diet while pregnant, but need to not put on more weight than is necessary for the health and development of the girls.
Girls - can you believe it? Twin girls!
your baby's the size of a sweet potato!
She's about 5.6 inches long and about 6.7 ounces now and she keeps on growing rapidly. (That's why you're probably feeling so hungry.)
your baby at 18 weeks
- Can you believe she's yawning, hiccuping, sucking and swallowing?
- And she's twisting, rolling, punching and kicking, too -- and she's big enough that you might be able to feel her doing it!
I thought I would share that there is research out there that says that gaining weight with twins actually is better for them (specifically: 24 pounds by 24 weeks). Congrats on your girls; i hope everything continues to go well.
ReplyDeleteI'm plus size to begin with so I had plenty for them to snack on while getting into weight gain mode. I was a little worried it took me so long to start gaining but I think most of that was my body trying to regulate after the roller coaster of IVF. Now I seem to be putting on weight at a normal rate like a normal person.
ReplyDeleteI would never, ever do anything to restrict what I eat or try not to gain weight, but it is a weird mental barrier to cross when you are gaining while already overweight.
I just need to work on WHAT I am eating not HOW MUCH I am eating. That's my battle.